Thoughts at Thanksgiving

Legend has it that following the arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620, where 46 of the Pilgrims’ original 102 colonists died, Native Americans helped them survive the brutal winter. However, this produced a bountiful harvest. And, as part of the celebration, the Pilgrims and natives joined in a three-day harvest festival to commemorate “Thanksgiving.”

The next “thanksgiving” meal didn’t occur again until June of 1676. Then, as part of its annual celebration of good fortune, Charlestown, Massachusetts, declared June 29 thanksgiving day, which did not include Indengious people, in 1676. As a celebration of the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga, all 13 colonies came together in October of 1777 for a one-time “Thanksgiving.”

But, despite its long history, Thanksgiving as we know it didn’t come to be until over 150 years later. While George Washington did proclaim it a National Holiday in 1789, Abraham Lincoln declared it to take place on the last Thursday in November in 1863. And, finally, Congress sanctioned it as a legal holiday in 1941.

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In the Bible, the meaning of thanksgiving reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering. Thanksgiving was a grateful language to God….rarely, if ever, was thanksgiving extended to any person or thing, except for Him.

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We in this state of Connecticut have one thing in particular to be grateful for: those of us who continue to value God, family, and their liberty. May He bless you and yours today and always.